Yummy ! The link between aspartame and brain tumors: What the FDA never told you about artificial sweeteners

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The link between aspartame and brain tumors: What the FDA never told you about artificial sweeteners

On September 30, 1980, a public Board of Inquiry advised against the approval of aspartame, stating: " The Board has not been presented with proof of a reasonable certainty that aspartame (

NutraSweet)

is safe for use as a food additive under its intended conditions of

use. " In 1981, however, the FDA approved aspartame for consumer use

based on studies that seem tainted by heavy financial interest in its

approval. To many medical practitioners and consumer interest groups,

the approval was a gross betrayal of public trust. " To think that there

is even a reasonable doubt that aspartame can induce brain tumors in

the American population is frightening. And to think that the FDA has

lulled them into a false sense of security is a monumental crime, "

writes Dr. L. Blaylock in Excitotoxins. In 2005,

twenty-five years after the initial Board of Inquiry's caution against

approval, numerous adults and children consume aspartame-sweetened

products on a daily basis, despite reservations regarding its safety.

Drinking Formaldehyde

The next time you pop open a can of diet soda,

pause for a moment to consider what exactly you're drinking. As the

aspartame gets broken down in your digestive tract, a metabolic

by-product called DKP appears. According to Dr. Blaylock, when your

stomach processes DKP, it produces a compound very similar to

N-nitrosourea, a powerful brain tumor-causing chemical. In addition,

aspartame contains methanol, which the body breaks down into formic

acid and formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is one of the main substances

pumped into a dead body during the embalming process.

Now, when I'm dead, the morticians can

pump formaldehyde into my body. Before then, however, I don't want to

be pumped full of any chemical used in the embalming process, and I'm

sure you don't, either. According to Dr. Blaylock, formaldehyde

accumulates near DNA

and causes serious damage. " Drinking even one diet cola a day can cause

formaldehyde buildup in cells, so that the amount of the toxin

increases daily, " he writes in Health and Nutrition (see related ebook on nutrition) Secrets.

" Urban myths " of the aspartame industry

You can visit the website for Equal, which says that aspartame-induced tumors, migraines, seizures and nervous system

disorders are just " urban myths. " If you believe that, you probably

also believe the aspartame industry's argument that the studies that

resulted in the condemnation of their products were based on lab rats

instead of humans. Just take note, however, that " spontaneous brain

tumors in laboratory rats are extremely rare, " according to Dr. H.J.

in Aspartame (NutraSweet): Is It Safe?. So before you

believe what the manufacturers of aspartame products would like to tell

you, consider first the fact that for extensively-studied, generic

laboratory rats, " brain tumors are extremely rare before age one and

one-half, " according to Dr. Blaylock. Afterward, compare that

observation to study results cited by Dr. Blaylock that indicate

" aspartame-fed rats developed two tumors by 60 weeks of age and five

tumors by 70 weeks. " Now, do you still believe it's an " urban myth? "

In light of the truth regarding the

safety of aspartame products, it is ironic that consumers often turn to

no-calorie diet products because of concern for their health,

especially in regard to obesity.

The aspartame industry promises consumers a reduction in calories

without having to drastically change their diet. Unfortunately,

misinformed consumers believe this. To the more informed readers out

there: Don't beguile yourselves chasing false promises. You can lose

weight by maintaining a healthy lifestyle through exercise and good food choices. The NewsTarget

website can provide you with information you need to start making these

changes. Additionally, if you want a truly natural way to sweeten your

foods and drinks, try stevia. You can learn more about stevia at NewsTarget's stevia archive. The right information is available to you, but it's up to you to discern the good from the bad and make healthy lifestyle choices.

The experts speak on aspartame and brain tumors:

" September 30, 1980: A public Board of Inquiry advises against aspartame "

A Public Board of Inquiry

(PBOI) advised against the approval of aspartame on September 30, 1980

pending further testing relative to induced brain tumors. It asserted:

" The Board has not been presented with proof of a reasonable certainty

that aspartame (nutrasweet) is safe for use as a food additive under

its intended conditions of use. "

aspartame - Is It Safe by H J MD, page 19

" Results of studies prior to the FDA's approval of aspartame "

…. The fact that 320

aspartame fed rats developed six brain tumors by seventy-six weeks

indicates an " incredible and unprecedented'' occurrence. ..

Excitotoxins by L Blaylock MD, page 213

This particularly nasty

substance should have never even been approved for human use. In fact,

had it not been for some fancy footwork by those in power in the FDA,

it never would have. Early experiments using low, medium and high doses

with aspartame all found dramatic tumor increases in test animals.

These included brain, pancreas, and breast tumors…

Health And Nutrition Secrets by L Blaylock MD, page 196

Importantly, brain tumors

are extremely rare before age one and one-half in the rat. So in truth

the incidence of spontaneously occurring brain tumors would be even

less than cited above. Yet, the aspartame fed rats developed two tumors

by sixty weeks of age and five tumors by seventy weeks.

Excitotoxins by L Blaylock MD, page 213

Dr. M. Gross, a

respected FDA scientist-pathologist, listed dozens of " serious

deficiencies " by a manufacturer and its representatives concerning the

prelicensing evaluation of aspartame in animal studies . . . the most

serious pertaining to brain tumors.

aspartame - Is It Safe by H J MD, page 11

When Dr. Olney pointed

out these findings to the FDA " aspartame Board of Inquiry " he was told

that the high incidence of tumors was the result of spontaneous

development of brain tumors in rats. .. He reviewed the incidence of

spontaneously occurring brain tumors in rats and found that out of

seven studies using a total of 59,000 rats, only 0.08% developed brain

tumors—the aspartame fed rats had a forty-seven fold higher incidence.

But to be fair, he even accepted G.D. Searle's references for

spontaneously developing brain tumors in rats and arrives at a figure

of 0.15%. This was still a twenty-five fold higher incidence in the

aspartame fed rats than in the controls.

Excitotoxins by L Blaylock MD, page 212

There has been virtually no

outcry by health professionals, the FDA or the public over the approval

of aspartame-containing products for human consumption when

pre-licensing animal studies showed brain and uterine tumors in rats

(Cornell 1984). …aspartame - Is It Safe by H J MD, page 225

The study divided the rats

into those exposed to low doses of aspartame and those exposed to a

high dose. In the low dose group five of the rats developed brain

tumors for and incidence of 3.13%. In the high dose group, seven

developed brain tumors (4.38%). This indicates a dose related incidence

of brain tumors. The higher the dose of aspartame, the more brain

tumors were induced.

Excitotoxins by L Blaylock MD, page 212

" The FDA approved aspartame in 1981: Why? "

It is interesting to note

that the first experiments done to test the safety of aspartame before

its final approval in 1981 disclosed a high incidence of brain tumors

in the animals fed nutrasweet® .4S4 In fact, this study was done by the

manufacturer of nutrasweet®, G.D. Searle. In this study 320 rats were

fed aspartame and 120 rats were fed a normal diet and used as controls.

The study lasted two years. At the end of the study twelve of the

aspartame fed rats had developed brain tumors (astrocytomas), while

none of the control rats had. This represented a 3.75% incidence of

brain tumors in the rats fed aspartame, which was twenty-five times

higher than the incidence of spontaneous brain tumors developing in

rats (0.15%) …

Excitotoxins by L Blaylock MD, page 212

Despite concerns over the safety of this new sweetener, including brain tumor induction in experimental animals, seizures, precipitation of headaches,

and an adverse effect on the developing brain, the FDA approved its use

as an artificial sweetener. Sales began to grow immediately. The

nutrasweet® company spent over 60 million dollars on advertising alone

during its first three years.

Excitotoxins by L Blaylock MD, page 218

…. What is ironic is that

the FDA would accept studies from a company with an obvious heavy

financial interest in having aspartame approved. But even more amazing

is that they would depend on this same company to provide studies that

they, FDA, knew beforehand were highly questionable and possibly

fraudulent upon which they would make such an important public safety

decision.

Excitotoxins by L Blaylock MD, page 214

" In view of all these

indications that the cancer-causing potential of aspartame is a matter

that has been established way beyond any reasonable doubt, one can ask:

'What is the reason for the apparent refusal by the FDA to invoke for

this food additive the Delaney Amendment to the Food, Drug, and

Cosmetic Act?' " aspartame - Is It Safe by H J MD, page 225

…. To think that there is

even a reasonable doubt that aspartame can induce brain tumors in the

American population is frightening. And to think that the FDA has

lulled them into a false sense of security is a monumental crime.

Excitotoxins by L Blaylock MD, page 214

" How aspartame possibly causes tumors "

But the story gets even

more interesting. Dr. Olney hypothesized that one possible cause of the

tumor induction was a by-product of aspartame metabolism

called diketopiperazine (DKP). When nitrosated by the gut it produces a

compound closely resembling a powerful brain tumor causing chemical—

N-nitrosourea.

Excitotoxins by L Blaylock MD, page 213

Several possibilities explain the high rate of cancer

in these animals. One is that aspartame breaks down in the body into a

substance called diketopiperizine or DKP, which chemically closely

resembles a group of cancer-causing chemicals. aspartame also contains

methanol, which breaks down in the body into formaldehyde and formic

acid. Formaldehyde had been shown to accumulate near DNA, causing

serious damage that is accumulative. That means that drinking even one

diet cola a day can cause formaldehyde buildup in cells, so that the

amount of the toxin increases daily.

Health And Nutrition Secrets by L Blaylock MD, page 197

" Results and accuracy of animal studies "

…. The study showed that in

320 nutrasweet-fed rats there were 12 brain tumors whereas in a group

of concurrent control rats which were not exposed to nutrasweet, there

were no brain tumors. Being a neuropathologist, I know that spontaneous

brain tumors in laboratory rats are extremely rare. The archival

literature documents an incidence not exceeding 0.6%. Since the above

incidence in nutrasweet-fed rats is 3.75%, this suggests that

nutrasweet may cause brain tumors and certainly suggests the need for

additional in-depth research to rule out that possibility . . .

aspartame - Is It Safe by H J MD, page 226

Male and female

Sprague-Dawley rats fed aspartame in the diet at various levels for up

to 2 years were observed for the incidence of brain tumors (G. D.

Searle and Co., 1973b). After the study was completed, the FDA

appointed an independent board of inquiry to review the data. The board

concluded that aspartame was a possible carcinogen, based on three of

the study's findings: The incidence of brain neoplasms in aspartame-fed

rats was greater than that in controls, …

Diet Nutrition Cancer by National Research Council, page 311

…. Dr. Lampert personally

examined the microscopic slides pertaining to the brain tumor studies

and told me a year or so after the PBOI report was completed that he

had been surprised at the large size of the brain tumors in the

nutrasweet-fed rats. "

aspartame - Is It Safe by H J MD, page 226

… brain tumors in all age

groups jumped by greater than ten percent….Dr. H. J. , who has

written an excellent book on the dangers of aspartame, has collected

some evidence that one particular type of brain tumor may be associated

with nutrasweet®.488 This tumor is known as a primary lymphoma of the

brain. It is a particularly nasty tumor with a high mortality rate.

Excitotoxins by L Blaylock MD, page 215

Other observations in both

animals studies and aspartame reactors should evoke concern about the

potential tumor-causing role of aspartame-containing products.

aspartame - Is It Safe by H J MD, page 221

" Should you consume aspartame? "

…and aspar-tame

(nutrasweet) …. Some experts suspect them of promoting cancer and

having toxic effects on the nervous system. You are much better off

eating moderate amounts of sugar than any of these unnatural compounds.

8 Weeks To Optimum Health By Weil MD, page 51

ACTIONS TO

aspartame-CONTAINING products may pose potential public health threats.

This chapter will address some of these possibilities—including

aspartame-related accidents, suicide, criminality, cancer, and

excessive diagnostic radiation.

aspartame - Is It Safe by H J MD, page 222

…. Avoid all nutrasweet®,

Equal®, and aspartame in any form. There is evidence that this

sweetener can impair your genetic structure, increase cancer risk and can be toxic to your nervous system.

Health And Nutrition Secrets by L Blaylock MD, page 395

" I would view the

Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) set by the FDA for aspartame (50 mg/kg

body weight/ day) as totally unwarranted and extremely high in that it

can be associated with completely unacceptable risks as far as the

induction of such (brain) tumors is concerned. It is clear that risks

of this magnitude for what the FDA regards as a 'safe' level of

exposure to aspartame represent an outright calamity or disaster. "

(Italics supplied)

aspartame - Is It Safe by H J MD, page 237

and extremely high in that

it can be associated with completely unacceptable risks as far as the

induction of such (brain) tumors is concerned- It is clear that risks

of this magnitude for what the FDA regards as a ' " safe' " level of

exposure to aspartame represents an outright calamity or disaster.23

Miracle Of Stevia by A May, page 188

Some primary brain

lymphomas are associated with immune depression seen with AIDS. One

would expect these to increase. But there is also a dramatic increase

in these previously rare tumors in individuals without AIDS.489 Some

have suggested that the recent increase in brain tumors merely reflects

better diagnostic methods. But a recent study found this not to be

true; the increase is real.490 Dr. feels that an association

with the tremendous rise in the use of aspartame products in the last

decade may hold the answer.

Excitotoxins by L Blaylock MD, page 215

" Aspartame and other disorders "

A 57-year-old executive

developed severe insomnia. His physician attributed it to " jet lag "

because of his frequent travels abroad. He was consuming 10 to 12 cans

of an aspartame cola and 4 to 6 packets of an aspartame powdered

sweetener daily. A tranquilizer (Halcion®) was prescribed—but only

intensified the insomnia. He was referred to a psychiatrist for

possible depression . . . then to an endocrinologist for a possible

brain tumor. The psychiatrist treated him for three years, during which

time he was " .. becoming significantly more moody, nervous, and

experiencing memory loss and speech difficulties (frustrating to me,

but really not that noticeable to others). " Low doses of the antidepressant drug Tofranil® triggered " a near panic attack. " within two weeks after discontinuing aspartame products, he was markedly improved.

aspartame - Is It Safe by H J MD, page 120

.... Phenylalanine is the

toxic component seen in the childhood disorder called phenylketonuria

or PKU. In this disorder, phenylalanine accumulates in the blood and

hence brain, in very high concentrations. rs for the gene develop

blood levels of phenylalanine twice as high as those of normal people,

when consuming an equal amount of aspartame. … In addition, the

metabolic breakdown of aspartame yields about a dozen toxic compounds,

some of which have been associated with cancer induction and alteration

of brain function.

The fewer of these toxins and foreign chemicals you expose your unborn

child to the better. This also applies to newborns, toddlers,

adolescents and adults as well. All of the toxins produced by ingesting

aspartame must be detoxified and this puts a strain on the body's

ability to cope.

Health And Nutrition Secrets by L Blaylock MD, page 24

A 30-year-old woman

consumed an average of five to six cups or glasses of aspartame

beverages daily for 17 months. Ringing and pain in both ears,

dizziness, and a severe headache began after the tenth month.

Audiometric studies revealed considerable loss of hearing in the left

ear. When brain tumor was ruled out by CT scan, the otology and

neurology consultants diagnosed her problem as Meniere's disease. The

patient herself, however, finally deduced that the aspartame drinks

caused these symptoms because she could predictably reproduce them on

rechallenge.

aspartame - Is It Safe by H J MD, page 141

I hope not, but ignoring

the long-term problems seemingly associated with use of

aspartame-containing products might portend another " thalidomide

revolution " . It is imperative that researchers who are not influenced

by producer-corporations gather detailed data concerning the incidence

rates of epilepsy,

visual problems, allergies, Parkinsonism, brain tumors and Alzheimer's

disease among aspartame consumers. The same applies to other

disorders—including the frequency of birth defects, seizures, impaired

intelligence and behavioral abnormalities among the children of women

who ingested aspartame products at conception and during pregnancy.

aspartame - Is It Safe by H J MD, page 214

Many people believe that

the real enemy among the sweeteners is aspartame — several Web sites

are devoted to attacking it (among them holisticmed.com). It's been

linked to everything from headaches, multiple sclerosis, loss of brain function, epilepsy, chronic fatigue syndrome, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, brain tumors, lymphoma, and lupus to diabetes itself. Some people may be sensitive to aspartame, which most commonly causes headaches. …Living Low-Carb by Fran McCullough, page 107

Another food additive to

avoid is aspartame, also called nutrasweet, …. More important, evidence

now exists that aspartate affects the nervous system and spinal cord,

promoting brain neurons to die, and thus leading to neurologic

diseases, such as Parkinson's,

Alzheimer's, and Lou Gehrig's disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).

It also damages the brains of infants and children, who then have a

higher that normal propensity for suffering neurologic diseases later

in their lives….

Lupus by Sharon , page 133

When the complainants stop

using the product, the symptoms go away, returning only when they

resume use of aspartame or products containing it. Many physicians

refer to these symptoms as " aspartame disease. " Some physicians and

scientists believe it to be an underlying cause of brain tumors, comas,

and death. The manufacturer of aspartame and the FDA deny any

association between aspartame and these conditions. Miracle Of Stevia by A May, page 175

Overview:

The link between aspartame and brain tumors: What the FDA never told you about artificial sweeteners

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